I am from stuffed animals
from blankets and couches.
I am from the warm brown room,
the smell of candles in the fall.
I am from the many home orchids.
The big oak in the back.
Not only a house to the squirrels,
but a home to a part of me.

I’m from know-it-alls and hard workers
from love and encouragement.
I’m from fighters and aspirers
and from putting pencil to paper..
I’m from keeping the doctor away, although it didn’t always work.
I’m from cooking with mom.
I’m from Royal Oak and Poland.

Barbeques in the summer, chowder in the cold.
From dad’s old high school stories.
From my adventurous, risk taker personality
The stupidity in the all the actions.
From family paintings along the wall.
One in every room of the house
reminds us of family and love.